Title:
Specifying Expansion Joint Width in Supported Concrete Slabs
Author(s):
Paiboon Chowchuvech and Christopher Gee
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
25
Issue:
3
Appears on pages(s):
66-72
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
3/1/2003
Abstract:
Expansion joint widths in supported concrete slabs are often specified as a lone quantity on construction documents without any reference to the time dependant nature of the joint widths and the temperature of the slabs at the time they are constructed. This method for specifying joint width makes it difficult for the joint supplier to select an appropriate expansion joint system and may contribute to later failure of the joint seal. This article presents a procedure to specify expansion joint widths taking into consideration the cast temperature of the slabs, shrinkage, and in the case of post-tensioned slabs, creep and elastic shortening. An example is presented using an approximate method for prediction of shrinkage and creep to demonstrate the use of this procedure to provide information necessary for the selection and construction of an appropriate expansion joint system.